Property quandruped for stage purposes.



No. 695,903. Patented Mar. 25, I902; A. BRAATZ.

PROPERTY OUADBUPED FOR STAGE PURPOSES.

(Application filed Jun:- 19, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I (No Model.)

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No. 695,903. Patented Mar. 25, l902.

v A. BBAATZ. BBOPEBTY QUADBUPED FOB STAGE PURPOSES.

(Applicabion'flled June 19. 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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llNTTEn STATES PATENT @EEICE.

ALEXANDER BRAATZ, OF ORANIENBURG, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

PROPERTY QUADRUPED FOR STAGE PURPOSES.

SEEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,903, dated March 25, 1902 Application filed June 19, 1901. Serial No. 65,194- (No model.)

To (tZZ 1071 0172, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BRAATZ, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oranienburg, near Berlin, Germany, have invented an Improved Property Quadruped for Stage Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention consists of a property quadruped for stage and pantomimic purposes, according to which the two front legs of the animal are those of the person performing, and by their movement the hind legs are moved mechanically by suitable levers and cords, as hereinafter set forth.

' In order to render the present specification easilyintelligible, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parls throughout the several views.

For the purposes of illustrating the invention an ass is depicted; but it will be obvious that any other quadruped might be substituted.

Figure l is a perspective view of the frame and mechanism for moving the hind legs; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, an elevation of the donkey and rider when properly covered, and Fig. l a detail view of a part of the mechanism. V

The body is formed by the two frames at and I), joined at the neck end by the ring 0, to which the head is affixed. At the part of the body which would be occupied by the saddle a ring (Z is provided, through which the body of the performer is inserted, the two legs of the person acting formingthe front legs of the quadruped. The hind'legsfand f are mounted to slide in sleeves s s, to the lower end of each of which a plate g is rigidly attached. The upper end of each legbar ff carries a similarly-shaped plate g, and the latter plates are normally retained down against the top of the sleeves s s by means of elastic bands or springs h. Pivoted at e' '2) at each side of the forward part of the frame are two levers Z Z, having their free ends bent round to a U-shape, as at t t, one end of the Ll-shaped lever lying in front of and the other end behind each leg of the performer, so that when the latter walks the two lovers Z Z will be oscillated on their respective pivots. At the oscillating parts of these levers they are connected by means of cords 7t 7t" to levers q and m, respectively, fast onsleeves p '13 and capable of oscillating on the fixed shaft 0. Each of the said sleeves carrise a lever-arm m and 'q, and these are connected, respectively, by'means of cords r and r to the left and right hand hind legs of the quadruped. Each hind leg is normally kept in its hindmost position by an elastic connection a and a, while non-elastic cords u 4) limit both the forward and rearward movements of each leg. Hoof-plateawhich may be suitably covered,.Fig. 3, are hinged at w w to the lower ends of the leg-bars ff, and the feet of the performer are advantageously covered by large clumsy hoof-like coverings f A pistol y may be supported on the fixed tube to of the frame in a position to be fired at a suitable moment by the performer. The cylinders s s are mounted to swing on a fixed shaft 6 to enable the proper movement of the hind legs of the quadruped.

The device operates in the following manner: WVhen one of the legs of the performer is moved forward, it swings the corresponding lever Z or Z, and this operates the lovers and cords working the hind legs. Supposing, for instance, that the lever Z, Fig. 4.,is moved from .the position shown in dotted lines to that in full lines, the cord it pulls the lever 'm over, and the lever m, operated thereby, lifts the hind-leg barf by means of the cord 0". In being raised the leg f will stretch the elastic connections h and shorten into the body of the qnadruped, while the other leg will simply turn on its pivot at w and remain with the hoof-plate 'on the ground. When the movement of one of the front legs ceases and the other leg is advanced, the corresponding hind leg will be moved, while the other hind leg will move down, owing to the release of the lever system operating it, and will stand on the ground while theother leg is being moved. By this means the natural movements of the hind legs are attained. The body of the performer forms the'body of the rider, as will be seen from Fig. 8, and false legs f are attached at each side to give the whole the appearance of a quadruped and rider. In

the example given the front legs are connected crosswise with the hind legs to get the proper method of walking of a donkey; but in the case, for instance, of a camel they would be connected up parallel to each other, as will be readily understood.

I claim as my invention 1. A property quadruped for stage and pan tomimicpurposeshaving the frontlegs formed by the legs of the performer, imitation pivotally-attached hind legs and lever systems to connect the front legs to the hind legs crosswise and move the said hind legs by the movement of the legs of the performer in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

2. A property quadruped having the front legs formed by the legs of the performer, imitation hind legs, pivotally supported and means for enabling the same to telescope into the body to a certain extent, a pair of pivotally-supported levers to engage the legs of the performer and means for transmitting their manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER BRAATL. Witnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY I'IASPER. 

